What is method references in Java?

Method references in Java provide a way to refer to methods by their names in a concise and easy-to-read manner. They are considered a special type of lambda expression and can be used to implement functional interfaces. Method references help in enhancing code readability and reducing redundancy.

There are four types of method references:

  • Static Method Reference: Referring to a static method.
  • Instance Method Reference of a Particular Object: Referring to an instance method of a specific object.
  • Instance Method Reference of an Arbitrary Object: Referring to an instance method of an object of a particular type.
  • Constructor Reference: Referring to a constructor.

Here’s an example of method references in Java:

// Example of Static Method Reference import java.util.Arrays; import java.util.List; public class MethodReferenceExample { public static void main(String[] args) { List names = Arrays.asList("John", "Jane", "Jack"); // Using method reference to print each name names.forEach(System.out::println); } }

Java Method References Java 8 Functional Interfaces